Meet the Instructors: Jenny
Have you met Instructor Jenny? This friendly face at the Green Bay studio, who is a chiropractic accounts manager by day, has been an Aerial Dance instructor for two years. At 53 years young, Instructor Jenny is mom to a 21-year-old son and special human to a 5-year-old calico cat named Robin. Read more about her in her own words below! Q: Tell us about the first class you took. What was it like? My best friend literally dragged me to my first intro classes in August of 2021. I fell in love with pole, but wanted to build strength first. I decided to start with a fitness package. I bought 3 more fitness packages before I figured out that I could just become an Elite member! I fully understand the apprehension about trying something new-especially when it’s a little bit taboo. Like I said, my friend dragged me… best decision ever! And yeah, the “I’m not strong enough” feelings hit me like a ton of bricks. What I did find, though, were instructors who met me where I was, encouraged me, and the most FUN way to prioritize my fitness goals. Q: What is your favorite apparatus? What are your favorite moves (or combos) to teach on it? Pole+heels. I absolutely love figuring out combos that help us feel like the baddie beauties we are! Right now I’m really into 80s rock, and feeling strong & powerful. Q: How do you stay personally motivated to train? I 100% know that even on the lowest motivation day I’m going to walk out of the studio feeling on top of the world. All ya gotta do is show up. Your brain & body do the rest! Q: Do you ever have feelings of imposter syndrome? How do you deal with them? You bet I have had bouts of imposter syndrome! I’m older than the vast majority of students & instructors. (And not by a little either.) I’ve also had vertigo & other health concerns over this past year. How do we eat an elephant? One bite at a time. I’m here to instruct/help, have fun, and continue learning & teaching. I’ve found that reading about the awesome experience a member had in my class, or hearing a student say, “I started my journey with you & kept at it because of you,” removes the imposter feelings, and reminds me that I am enough. (I mean, I know it, it’s just nice to have external validation at times). Q: Which do you prefer – performing in shows or helping others perform? Honestly, I love choreography & helping others prepare for a show. I like performing too, but I think I enjoy sitting back, and watching what we made a little bit more. Q: What makes the ADWI community special to you?: The community of ADWI is incredibly special because it’s composed of women with beautiful hearts working on themselves. Open. Positive. Thriving. Helpful. We can help others in powerful ways as long as our own oxygen mask is on first. Q: If you had a walk up song, what would it be? There are two: Jennie (by Jennie) and Heaven’s on Fire (by KISS)
Meet the Instructor: Ashley
Our next featured Aerial Dance instructor is Ashley, a 30-year-old histotechnologist by day, who has been coming to ADWI since the first open house at the Green Bay studio. The youngest of three (baby of the family), Ashley is mom to two wonderful fur babies, kitties named Loki and Hades. Q: Tell us about the first class you took. What was it like? I was very nervous in my first class. I came in all by myself and was very uncoordinated. The class was a lot harder than I thought it would be, but the instructor was very encouraging. I slowly started to feel more comfortable and it turned into a great class. Q: What advice would you give to women who feel too intimidated to start? We have all been there at one point or another. Everyone is on a different journey. I was the kid who walked the mile in gym class or sat in the goal picking grass during soccer. I never thought I would have the strength or physicality to do this sport. Starting is the only way to help silence those fears. Q: What is your favorite apparatus? What are your favorite moves (or combos) to teach on it? My favorite apparatus is pole! Each class is different but one of my favorites to teach is a double knee hold. It’s tricky but I love seeing the joy on my students’ faces when it finally clicks. Q: How do you handle days when your own progress is slow? I condition! If I’m not getting the tricks I want, or if the grip gods have forsaken me, I go back to my conditioning. It is the building blocks for everything we do and by doing it I still feel like I made progress. Q: What’s one trick or skill you’re currently working on mastering? My reverse grab on static. Static is not my favorite form of pole but it is definitely pretty cool. Q: Which do you prefer – performing in shows or helping others perform? Why? That’s a tough one. I honestly love both. I do believe for the same reason though. I get to see someone truly come out of their shell. I get to see them grow not only physically but mentally as well! There is almost nothing like putting your heart and soul into something to then hear the roar of the crowd. It fills all of the little cracks in my heart. Q: What do you hope students take away from your classes? That our minds are our biggest adversary, and the way that you speak/think matters. This sport is hard for everyone, not just you. So, give yourself some grace and throw that negative self talk out the window. Easier said than done, I know, but when you actively try, you will be amazed at how much farther you will go. Q: Please share a favorite class or performance memory. One time I was teaching a hammock class. It was a full class which was a little overwhelming for me. I had a few new students that had never taken the class before. I thought I had fumbled the class because it was quieter than usual. Until the end of class one of the new students came up to me and gave me a hug, thanking me for a great class. She had been having a rough day and said class had brightened her day. That’s what we are here for. Q: If you had a walk-up song, what would it be? Untouchable by Motionless in White
Meet the Instructors — Meg
We trust them to keep us safe and frequently to lift our butts. We get to see them at the studio. We often share much of our lives with them; frequently entrusting them with our secrets and life happenings. Who are these magical creatures I speak of? They are the instructors who make up Aerial Dance. The instructor being highlighted today is Meg. Meg has been with Aerial Dance since the spring of 2022 when she was searching for youthful joy she used to feel and a “gym” to call home after moving to the area. Being a gymnast most of her life and also teaching gymnastics through her teens and 20s, Aerial Dance seemed like the place to try. It helped, the person she heard about the studio from lit up when she talked about being a student. After joining the studio in the spring of 2022, she was asked to become an instructor and began her instructor training in January of 2025. Meg shared, her first video is of her “trying” a closed grip tuck in April of 2022. Explaining how Aerial Dance not only changed her physically but also mentally at a time she needed it most. Like many students, Meg loves going upside down. And also had a hard time narrowing down her favorite move (and other favorites.) Meg loves herself a good handspring on the pole and creature crawl while playing on the silks. Hammock is one of Meg’s jams, and she shared she loves all things hammock, especially if it incorporates a straddle back position. Even being a gymnast and someone who has been athletic most of her life, there are still moves Meg has struggled to concur. Superman on the pole being the one that comes to mind. You may be asking, how did Meg overcome the struggle? She believed in herself and went higher up the pole. Meg shared, like other moves, sometimes you need a little height to force yourself to commit and that is exactly what she did. When sharing about the move she never needs to do again, Meg shared something I found quite profound, and something many of us seem to struggle with from time to time. Identifying it is not exactly a move, she said she would name “self doubt.” Wow, that hits different, let it sink in a little. Something Meg, and as I am writing this, myself hope to never experience again, in big part thanks to the studio is self-doubt. When it comes to actual moves, Meg did share she could do without ever doing a hooked layback with the right leg hooked. Not to let that stop her though, a hooked layback on the other leg or a straight legged layback are all fair game. Whether it is taking the class or leading it as an instructor, Dance Cardio is Meg’s absolute favorite. Meg said “There is something about this space where you can shake your booty as if no one is watching and no one cares, it is a blast.” In trying to name a “go to dance song” Meg shared “Now you’re asking the real hard questions! It can’t be just one…it depends on my mood, but a few that jump right into my head are: Outta Your Mind by Lil Jon featuring LMFAO, Soul No. 5 by Caroline Rose, Alive by Sia, as well as anything Lady Gaga, Lizzo or The Black Keys. My vote is she leads a dance party to her saved songs on shuffle. When it comes to being an instructor, Meg stated her favorite part is how rewarding it is to be part of someone’s journey and see the growth. She identifies we do not all have good days, herself included, but seeing the women continue to show up for themselves and attempt to be the best version of themselves is not only rewarding and beautiful but also fills her heart in a way words cannot adequately capture. Similarly, when naming who has been her biggest inspiration, Meg shared it’s the other instructors. “Some old, some new, but they are all so special in their element and each of them are so diverse. They truly amaze me!” **Hey Meg- they, and you, also inspire all of us students. When asked what the most surprising element of being an aerialist is, Meg shared something I think we can all relate to. It is hard. We do hard things and once we do one hard thing, we start working on the next hard thing, be it a variation or new move all together. For those of you who have not gotten to take many of Meg’s classes yet or do not know her well, she named her instructor style as a “melting pot.” Continuing to share “In my own opinion, I am a bit of a lot of odd things. My brand would say “Upside down and inside out”. And when sharing how she would describe herself as an aerial move, she said a bat sharing “Likes hanging upside down, is a little creepy at times and likes the dark, but when you look closer its really cute and just wants to be free.” Meg prepares for class by having the perfect playlist to set the mood for the class. A few last tidbits about Meg you might not be aware of but add to the amazingness she is include, her being part of a traveling stunts and tumbling team based out of Chicago. The team visited most states to do clinics and performances and even represented the United States in Prague for their opening Gala in 2006. Despite all of her success, Meg stated she has a “man’s center of gravity.” And the fun fact she shared was that at a “really fancy French restaurant” she didn’t like the food she tried, and promptly spit it out onto the open table. Meg stated she is a firm believer that “if you are not happy, do
Meet the Instructor – Eliza!
Have you met Instructor Eliza, the 28-year-old administrative assistant by day, Aerial Dance powerhouse by night? She tried pole exercise with her sorority sisters in college, and fell in love with it while participating in a pole club while studying abroad. In her personal life, Eliza is especially enamored with her one year old nephew, whom she loves to spoil! Q: Tell us about the first class you took. What was it like? A: I remember just having so much fun and wanting to nail everything that was taught. I wanted to be good! I loved the challenge that was pole and figuring how to hold on with my body. Q: What is your favorite apparatus? What are your favorite moves (or combos) to teach on it? A: Pole – I love teaching most inverts but introducing Archie is a favorite. I also love a good crunch spin introduction. Q: How do you handle days when your own progress is slow? A: Not gonna lie, it’s frustrating, but reminding myself it’s okay not to get something. If I’m working on something in a class that I can’t get, or just isn’t making sense to me, I try to break it up into pieces and work on it that way. Or I try to review something I do know or work on something else from the class that I better understood. Taking a step back and to look back at how far I’ve come from when I first started is a good reminder that I’m doing hard stuff! While I sometimes cringe at old videos, they’re also good reminders to see the progress I’ve made. Q: Do you ever get hit with imposter syndrome? How do you handle it? A: Omg all the time. I try to remind myself of the phrase: Comparison is the thief of Joy. Every instructor and student is so talented and it’s hard to not compare myself to them. But remembering that we’ve all had a different journey. Some have been doing this way longer than me. Some have a different favorite apparatus than me. Some learn faster than me. I have to remind myself that where I’m at is okay. My journey is just a little bit different than somebody else’s. Everyone is always so supportive too, we constantly lift each other up even if we’re having an off day. Q: What’s one trick or skill you’re currently working on mastering? A: At this moment, it’s a press up to monkey on pole. Otherwise just trying to master different Ayesha and Pegasus transitions. Q: What do you hope students take away from your classes? A: To have fun and not take yourself so seriously! We’re all here for a different type of workout than going to the gym and aerial is such a fun challenge! Q: Please share a favorite class or performance memory. A: It was at one of the Light the Night Markets in Appleton. I was helping run it with another instructor, and I always love watching all the students and others perform. But what made this one so special was that after I had come off the hoop from my turn, my old dance teacher from my childhood was there and had watched me perform. I haven’t seen her in almost 10 years but recognized her instantly and she had told me how cool what we were doing was. She helped shape me into the dancer I am today and inspired me so much and to see her again made my heart so full. She’s the person who helped me fall in love with dance, and it was just such a wholesome and kind of full circle moment!
Celebrating Sensuality Without Shame
Pole dancing gives you the chance to move in a way that feels good without worrying what anyone else thinks. For a lot of women, that is something new or rare. We’re so used to being told how to act or dress or move, but in a pole class, you get to decide for yourself. In class, you learn to move with intention and confidence. Sometimes it’s graceful, sometimes it’s powerful, sometimes it’s awkward, and sometimes it’s just plain fun. And the best part? You’re not doing it for anyone else. It’s just for you. Being in a room full of women all doing the same thing makes it feel safe and empowering. Even if you don’t get something on the first try, other women are there to encourage you to try again. Your instructor may offer individual tricks or things to try differently to help you get that move. These classes can help you feel better in your body, no matter what shape or size it is, or where you are at on your fitness journey. You get to explore your sensuality in a space where there is no judgment. You’re not trying to be sexy for someone else—you’re just enjoying the way your body moves. Over time, you may start to shed some of the shame or awkwardness that might’ve built up over the years. You laugh, you fall, you get back up—and you start to feel proud of how you move and what your body is capable of. That kind of freedom is rare, and when you find it with a group of women who are all cheering you on, it can feel absolutely amazing.
Meet the Instructors – Erin!
Next up in our series is Instructor Erin, a 36-year old accountant by day, who lives with her husband (Erick), stepdaughter (Kam), two dogs (Remmy and Izzy) and a leopard gecko (Cupcake). She began her pole journey in 2018 and in 2019 bought herself an elite membership as a birthday present. Read more about her below! Q: Tell us about the first class you took. What was it like? A: I took beginner pole first. I don’t remember too much about it because it was quite some time ago, but what I do remember is that it was fun, it left me feeling accomplished and good about myself, and it also left me with such tired arms that I wondered who put bricks in my purse when it was over. Q: What advice would you give to women who feel too intimidated to start? A: I would say to go with a friend if you’re too scared to start on your own or to change the perspective and look at it as being brave and trying something new for yourself. New experiences that we are brave enough to try often leave us feeling empowered, successful, and even impressed with ourselves! Q: What is your favorite apparatus? A: Ooo, this is a tough question. When I tried intro to aerial hoop was BY FAR my favorite and silks was by far my least favorite. Now I’d say silks is actually my favorite. Don’t get me wrong, I still love hoop, but there’s just something so beautiful about silks poses and about the effort that goes into getting into them. Q: How do you stay personally motivated to train? A: This has been a challenge for me in the recent past. It’s never that I don’t want to train, but life changes a lot over the course of years. I started at the studio when I was single, a good chunk of the time I was working remotely, and I had a lot more free time. Now being married, having a daughter, and going back to an office job, that free time is significantly less. But when I have time, my motivation comes from a couple sources. First is wanting to learn and grow for all of the students at AD. I always want to be my best so I can share that with all of you. I also want to be my best and learn and grow for myself too. It’s something that makes me feel confident and pretty, and accomplished, and proud. The other motivation that has been helpful in the past is having a buddy to train with. When you have someone to hold you accountable to showing up and to trying the hard things, it makes everything easier. Q: Do you ever get hit with imposter syndrome? How do you handle it? A: Oh my gosh, ALL. THE. TIME. When I first became an instructor, I was so proud of what I could do, I felt so confident and I was always happy with how quickly a lot of things came to me. Then I saw others. I saw instructors who could do things I had never even dreamed of. I tried things that were outside of my skill level (with a heavy spot of course) and definitely wasn’t always successful. I felt like I was a failure and I didn’t belong. And now that my personal life has taken a different direction and the time I have to train isn’t the same, I see people I used to be in classes with have significantly surpassed my skillset. I think it’s a hard thing that almost every single person deals with. I’m not sure if I’ve even figured out or mastered how to deal with it, but I do try to remind myself that my life priorities have shifted and changed and I’ve worked on being more comfortable asking people to teach me something cool I see them working on. I try to remember everyone’s journey is different and we all have our strengths and our opportunities. And most of all, I try to remind myself that I’m my only critic inside those four walls. No other instructor or student is sitting there looking at me and saying “you should be farther” or “you suck” or “you don’t belong”. It’s all in my head. I try to remember that what my body CAN do is amazing and to be remember how far I’ve come and be grateful for that. Q: Which do you prefer – performing in shows or helping others perform? A: Definitely helping others perform. I’ve always enjoyed helping other people. When I became an instructor it was because I wanted to be a part of bringing the same joy and confidence and positive experience to every student I had at AD – just like it had done for me! Q: What makes the ADWI community special to you?: A: The support, the genuine care and kindness, the encouragement. When I see faces I haven’t seen for a while the excitement to see each other again and catch up like nothing every changed, the celebration of each other’s successes, the kindness, the support in good times and difficult times. The community at AD is like no other and I’ll always treasure it!
Physical Benefits of Pole Dancing
Pole dancing gives you a workout that’s way more fun than anything at the gym. It’s a full-body challenge that builds real strength. And when you’re in a class with other women, the energy just pushes you further. Creating a snowball effect of encouragement between each other helps keep everyone motivated. Every new move works something different. Your arms, legs, back, core—they all get stronger over time since the whole body is needed to create unique shapes. Plus, you’re always moving in ways that feel more natural and exciting than reps on a machine. Before you know it, you’re holding yourself up, flipping upside down, or finally sticking that tricky spin. Training with a group of women brings extra motivation. Watching someone finally get their first climb makes you want to keep pushing and make your own climbs cleaner or more efficient. Celebrating each other’s progress keeps it all feeling fun and encouraging. No one is there to judge. Everyone’s working hard and lifting each other up (sometimes literally!). And the best part? The mental focus shifts from how you look to what you can do. You’re not chasing weight loss or appearance goals. You’re building strength, flexibility, and confidence in what your body can actually do. That feels a whole lot better than counting calories.
Healing My Relationship with My Body
I became self-conscious of my body as early as fourth grade. By middle and high school, those insecurities grew louder. Even though I was petite, I felt pressure to stay “skinny.” Growing up during the Tumblr and early Instagram era didn’t help. The “thigh gap” trend made me hyper-aware. I picked up habits like covering my stomach in photos, constantly adjusting and hiding. Looking back, it’s heartbreaking to realize how young I was, already convinced my body wasn’t good enough. But what even is “ideal”? The standard always shifts. Today, I’m grateful for my body. She’s strong and carries me through so much. Healing has been a process, and the shift came in an unexpected place: pole dancing. What began as a class became transformative. On the pole, I wasn’t focused on how I looked but on what my body could do. I noticed strength I hadn’t recognized and control I never imagined. Curiosity replaced criticism. Feeling grounded and powerful mattered more than being “thin” or “perfect.” Pole became my outlet, my happy place, my way of expressing emotions I couldn’t always put into words. It helped me appreciate the parts I once hid. Even small things (like my “monkey toes” from warm-ups) became reminders of my body’s adaptability. Confidence for me now is about feeling strong and sexy on my own terms. That doesn’t mean body image is always easy. I still have tough days, but I remind myself that our bodies are meant to change—especially as women. We fluctuate with cycles, stress, and life. That’s normal. Even my awkward “upside-down pole faces” remind me of something powerful. They mean I’m hanging upside-down on a pole, doing something incredible. If you’ve struggled with how you see your body, you’re not alone. Body dysmorphia isn’t always obvious. Sometimes it shows up in the quiet moments like when you’ve changed outfits over and over or cropped a photo before posting. It’s real, and it’s valid. Healing is possible. For me, it came through movement, strength, and seeing my body as more than appearance but as a source of power. I’m still on the journey, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come. Your body is more than something to be judged. It’s something to be lived in, moved in, expressed through, and loved.
Meet the Instructors – Rene
We trust them to keep us safe and frequently to lift our butts. We get to see them at the studio. We often share much of our lives with them; frequently entrusting them with our secrets and life happenings. Who are these magical creatures I speak of? They are the instructors who make up Aerial Dance. And now, you get to learn a little more about them as we do a “Meet the Instructor” series. The lovely and ever flexible instructor you get to read about today is Rene. Rene started in January of 2022 when her best friend bought her an Intro to Pole class for Christmas. (Let’s take a second to emphasize how amazing of a present to give someone an Intro class is. For real, if you are searching for birthday, Christmas, “just because” presents, gifting an intro class or gift certificate is a fabulous option.) Rene has been a dancer for over 20 years but had not yet tried the aerial arts. In January of 2025 Rene became an instructor at Aerial Dance. Having not been a life long aerialist, Rene says the most surprising aspect of doing aerial is how beneficial cross training between apparatuses is. Similar to some of the current and former students, Rene found inspiration from our magical instructors at Aerial Dance, naming Instructor Ashley specifically as her biggest aerial arts inspiration. Rene’s favorite part of teaching is being able to see the people she is teaching grow and improve overtime. And Rene herself is no stranger to growth and improvement, constantly pushing herself to achieve new moves. Currently her favorite move is Jade on the pole. However, when sharing the move she struggled with over and over until it clicked, she named Spatchcock. And even though she is fabulous at every move I have seen her attempt, Rene says a Remi Bridge is one she never needs to touch again. Upon becoming an instructor, Rene was surprised at how much planning goes into each of the classes she teaches. While you will see Rene teaching many classes and doing so with enthusiasm, her favorite classes to teach are the upper level pole classes added they “have my heart.” Regardless of the class Rene is teaching, she prepares for class by getting the moves she is teaching in her body so she is able to think through and articulate the moves to the students. If you sign up for a class Rene teaches, which I strongly encourage you to do, she names her style as a “focus on making moves look pretty, flowy, and effortless.” Staying with the same theme, if Rene was to describe herself as an aerial move, she said “Juliet on pole, simple but can look beautiful with the right technique.” Rene, a dancer most her life, shared her hidden talent of being able to dance the entire “Hoedown Throwdown” from the Hannah Montana Movie. Who else is now wanting a dance cardio to this song, because I am! And if we really want to see Rene jam out, her go to dance song is “Say Hey (I Love You)” by Michael Franti. I hope to see you in a Rene led class soon!
Meet the Instructors – Kiana
We trust them to keep us safe and frequently to lift our butts. We get to see them at the studio. We often share much of our lives with them; frequently entrusting them with our secrets and life happenings. Who are these magical creatures I speak of? They are the instructors who make up Aerial Dance. And now, you get to learn a little more about them as we do a “Meet the Instructor” series. In this addition of “Meet the Instructor,” you will get to learn a little more about the booty shaking hype queen, Kiana. Kiana took her first pole class in September 2019 and joined the instructor team in 2021. Being someone who has loved dance her entire life, Kiana joined Aerial Dance after moving to Wisconsin and wanting to make new friends. While many people find their inspiration in instructors or widely known Aerial Artists out in the world, Kiana finds the most inspiration from the students. She shared “you all bring so much knowledge, experience, and energy to class. I’m constantly in awe of how strong, physically and mentally, you are. I love how dance and fitness bring such a diverse group of people together, which inspires me to be a better instructor and aerialist.” (I know this is about Kiana, however, as a side note, I agree with Kiana and am regularly inspired and in awe of the amazing people who walk through the doors of Aerial Dance.” Being the hype queen she is, Kiana’s favorite class to teach is Beginner Pole. She says “I love seeing students discover their strength and confidence.” In general Kiana shared her favorite part of being an instructor is being able to support the students through their fitness journeys; meeting all of us and learning from us as well. Kiana says the most surprising aspects of being an instructor are how much she has learned while on her teaching journey and how she will be able to use the skills she has and is learning in a future career. Having started at Aerial dance with “NO upper body strength” Kiana was very surprised she was able to do aerial as she never would have thought she could. The versatility of an outside leg hang places it on the top of her favorites list. And another one of her favorite moves is a move she worked on and worked on and finally was able to get after committing to it, is the fish flop. Like many moves I have attempted, Kiana shares she was more scared than anything. And while we are talking about moves, if Kiana were to pick a move to never do again, it would be flag. To prepare herself for class, Kiana has a light snack before heading to the studio. She then runs through the class plan and blasts her playlist. Sharing “If you catch me on I-41 on my way to the studio, I’m usually dancing to get my energy up!” If Kiana were to describe her style as an instructor, she says she loves incorporating science and helping students understand movement pathways. Adding in she is also loud, very loud. The aerial move Kiana feels she can describe herself as is, embrace, because it reminds her of love. Loving fiercely and caring for those around her is something Kiana prides herself in. Kiana enjoys traveling and shared her favorite place to travel is the Galapagos Islands. Being the dancing queen she is, Kiana will dance to anything she self proclaims she will “bulldoze the crowd to get to the dance floor” if Gasolina by Daddy Yankee starts playing. If you haven’t signed up for a Kiana class, especially a dance cardio, you are missing out on a dancing experience you didn’t know you needed in your life.
